Charleston School of Law partners with InfiLaw system

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- The Charleston School of Law announced Thursday evening that it is engaging in a management agreement with InfiLaw, a group of independent law schools across the country.

According to the school's release, the merger would allow Charleston's law school "a strong succession path and access to pioneering programs and tools that will help it continue to provide students with excellence in teaching, strong faculty relationships, as well as opportunities for public service and community involvement."

"First and foremost, current students and those who will matriculate next month will have a law school experience that we could have only dreamed of and wished for when we were in law school," said Dean Andy Abrams.

According to the Charleston School of Law, the brokered deal will give students greater access to courses, diversity and job prospects.

"Our students will continue to find the school to be a community of friendly, approachable educators who care about the legal education they receive. But this new alliance will broaden our scope and make many more resources available to our 600 students," Abrams said.

Will Folks of the blog FITSNews broke the news earlier Thursday, saying the school was considering a sale. He cited faculty members who met with InfiLaw representatives on Wednesday.

The Post and Courier reported that one of the school's founders, Alex Sanders, said he was no longer serving on the school's board.

The Naples, Fla.,-based company has schools based in Jacksonville, Fla., Phoenix, and Charlotte, N.C.

According to InfiLaw's mission statement, the network aims to "establish the benchmark of inclusive excellence in professional education for the 21st Century" by serving the underserved, focusing on student outcome in the classroom and graduating students who are ready to move into legal practice.